New Start

Well, I'm finally recovered.

The first week I was just emotional and fatigued, I needed to relax.

Then I got a cold- I figure that adrenaline was keeping it at bay.

But this weekend I finally was able to sit down and get to work again. I went through all the feedback (from memory, emails, online chats, feedback cards) and put it all into one document. Then I started thinking about what my feedback to myself is... the direction is pretty clear though.

I checked the video tape: captured! I have had two major shows where the camera failed so I was so scared to check. Didn't want to be disappointed.

Aislinn will be available this week so I think we'll sit down and watch it together. I don't think I can watch it by myself without someone forcing me to. Too torturous!!

Another thing I want to do is really get my research right. I abstained from going through old diary entries when writing the first show. I just wanted to get the main idea across. But now I'll really go back and get the moments right- remember how things were back then. The feedback encouraged me to do more than just skim the surface.

Disney research too- animation is a big part of the show, so I have to go through my animation nerd collection and refresh my memory. Hoo boy!

Excited!

Just the beginning...

I have concerns that my last post came off as arrogant. Hope not- I was just really excited. Throughout the whole blog I was playing down how stressed, tired and worried I was about the show. I didn't want anyone to read it, think "this will be shit" and then not show up.

But basically... I was worried it would be shit.

So what a joy that it actually wasn't!!

This blog is going to continue because the show is going to continue- and I'm starting work immediately. I've been told that the show is "worth" a lot of work. I'm used to putting a lot of work into things that aren't worth it... ha ha.

I'm envisioning a really well put together final product. If I workshop anywhere else before the run, I'll probably do it out of town. I feel like I have something I can invest in and latch onto in the next while. There's so much uncertainty in the arts, so this is very liberating: a commitment.

THANK YOU!

I have messages to respond to, and thank yous to send, but all that I have energy for is to say thank you here... for now... Last night was, honestly, a fantasy come true.

I got through the thing without straying too far from the script, there was lots of positive feedback, and all the constructive feedback was suggestions that put the play right on track with what I was aiming for: They got it!

"They" were such an awesome mix of all my favourite people... it really was like "this is your life," actually... Me talking about my life to those who were present at different stages. Apart from the parts of the story where I was alone... in that case, it was new to all of them.

People keep talking about my "bravery" and it's one of those things where a kid falls down but doesn't start crying until the adults react. It's starting to make me self conscious, but ALSO, I am VERY tired right now and I at least have presence of mind to realize that I need to recover here and then reflect :) I've been on an adrenaline high for 3 weeks now and today was definitely withdrawl. I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't get back to sleep- my body was aching. At least it all came AFTER the fact.

More later... The consensus I took was that this is a "thing", that it's entertaining, that it touches people, and it does have a future. So... a break... then the next steps :)

Today's the Day!

I made programs!

Solo Set!

Zuch Ward was supposed to play tonight (me and Adam Ward) but he had an injury and couldn't make it. Since I'll be doing a solo set in the show, I decided it was a great opportunity to work out in front of an audience- as opposed to finding a sub. That's pretty much the whole story- I thought the set went well so I'm encouraged.

Oh! Amazing!

I met with Aislinn tonight and I've reached a new level of enthusiasm. First of all, we finally agreed on a script: She liked the first draft, which was really the second draft... I liked the fourth draft... It's decided: THIS draft is it. The newest draft and we're both feeling good about it. Need to revise some things... work some setups for better payoffs...

It's clear there will be much more writing done after Sunday, but the parts that are working right now set a good bar for the rest of the play to aim to hit. We're trying to build a foundation for something that has real value.

I'll say it again- so happy to have Aislinn on board. It's like I have a carbon copy of myself on the outside... pointing out things I know but missed... like "too much exposition here." I'm too busy delving to notice. Plus she's got great original ideas.

Speaking of delving, this week has been very interesting. The studio I started at on Monday is the same studio I worked at 3 years ago. All the same people, exact same job: But I've changed. People have been openly staring. I never know whether to initiate a "hi" because I'm not positive I'll be recognized. On top of that, it's just been great getting all the memory jogs- where I ate lunch, how I scrutinized the calories. It's all coming back to me. Helpful.

Tonight I'm sleeping. Like, soon.

Finalized?

I thought my script was finalized, but Aislinn didn't... and then I read it again. She's got some gooood points.

I recorded the whole show on my ipod so that I can listen to it at work and memorize. But tomorrow I'll have a notebook handy to jot revision ideas. My new job is more private... so that's a saving grace. At my old job, I had people at my desk constantly and listening to anything for more than 10 minutes at a time was impossible.

The most difficult tech is done...

I hope people bring out friends that I don't know. I want to get harsh opinions from strangers!

Tech!

Yesterday actually went very close to planned. I wonder how much postering actually works? Anyways, I wrote in the cafe until I found myself singing and dancing out ideas in the washroom... time to go home and finish there.

I got my finalized script done early this morning. Any more tweaks will be through rehearsal. Like, no need to PANIC at this point. I even read it out and timed it.

AND, the biggest relief of all- I have 3 computers and as of this morning NONE of them had the ability to burn a cd... the computer that works the best doesn't have a cd drive, and the one that works the worst... 's sides fell off when I last moved it. But the middle one! Jackpot!! I finally (FINALLY) got iTunes working again and it turns out I can even turn you tube videos into audio. iTunes/Garageband is all I know, so it's a HUGE load off.

Rob says I can do MAX 30 tech cues. K, okay, I got it, okay :P

I have to make a puppet so I guess I'll do that and watch the Oscars at the same time. He shouldn't be too difficult.

Stresses 2

24 hours later and I've got the brain space cleared... made a to do list... I do not feel relaxed about the show anymore!

Tomorrow's supposed to be sunny. I'm going to walk the streets, poster, pick up props and stop in cafes to write and finalize.

Stresses

Well this wouldn't be an honest production blog if I didn't record how I'm feeling right now. I was supposed to work on the show tonight, but instead I just came from the vet. I had to put down my old friend Moses, and it hurts real bad. He was a very awesome cat, and everyone who ever met him thought so. I could go on about it, but the sentiments belong somewhere else I'm sure.

Some other stresses are wearing me: Tomorrow is my last day at the animation studio I'm at- I'd take a day off otherwise. My video project is due at 4 tomorrow... I want meet the deadline and leave on a good note. By tomorrow night I'll feel much better I'm sure.

Monday I start my new animation job, but apart from show specific training, I'm not too worried about that. I know the crew already and I've worked there before. Thank goodness.

When I applied for a stage rental 3 months ago, there was no way I'd know what I'd have on my plate right now. (Could be better, could be worse.) But it's one of those things where I'm so stressed that when I think of the show, I relax. I'm confident in what I have so far and fleshing it out further is something I'm excited about. I just need to clear some space in my brain... 24 hours from now, I'll be a lot closer.

Ah.

Today I went to Fraser Studios to drop off a poster. The fella there said, "If it's a one woman show, then who are these other people on the poster?"

Oops. I thought it was clear it was a show about change, but it only works if you get that it's all the same person.

I got more daring and invited out more facebook friends today. Some I just missed the first time around, and then I thought, "they might like this."

Poster

I started promotions today, which means someone could actually be reading this post. :o Posters printed and a few up: I need to think about where to distribute the rest. It seems like 90% of my yeses are female... interesting. I hadn't thought of gender until I noticed that.

Seeing specific names on the yes list is encouraging too. My sister is coming all the way from Ottawa! I'm not writing for them but their support will be a comfort.

I also finished my new (extensive) beat sheet this weekend. It feels like this show is a real thing... all the themes and analogies support each other and tie up well- I think. Still waiting to hear from Aislinn.

Lots to do- I'm looking at the arts and crafts with a heavy heart. This is where I should really go "workshop", instead of spending time on sets and props... so I can focus on the performance. But arts and crafts is easier work! Busy work! Drawing and sewing and shit is so easy to me! If you walk in and the set is AMAZING... get ready for a terrible show :p

I feel frazelled... confident about the content but now I need to complete a bunch of tasks. Tonight I'm going to bed early and then I'll feel less wired... is the idea.